Transmission mechanism.



R. T. VAN VALKENBURG.

TRANSMISSION MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

Patented Fe.11,1913.

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R. T. VAN VALKENBURG. TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

1,052,772. Patented Feb.11,1913.

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RANDALL '1.VAN VALKENBURG, OF HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND.,

TRANSMISSION micnamsm.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application flledlay 27, 1912. Serial No. 700,005.

To all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, RANDALL T. VAN VAL- KENBUBG, a citizen. of the United States,

residing at Hagerstown, i' the county of Washington and `State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transmission Mechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention,'such as will enable` others skilled in the art to which it appertains` to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machine ele-x 'Figure /1-.is a plan view of this transmissionl mechanism. complete, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the cup-shaped hub and some of. the bearings in'section; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2, showing. one of the gear members, and' Fig. 4 is a central vertical sect-ion lthrough Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged central section through the stud or pin on which the counter gear is mounted, showing. the 'bearings for holding the latter in place.

Referring to the drawings herewith, the letter F designates the frame or vbox in which-.this mechanism is contained, P is the powershait, D the driven shaft, B are ball beal'ingsgof any suitable type in which the various` parts are mounted, and T are thrust bearings located at points where they 'are needed. These parts are all well known, and

.no detailed description thereof is necessary.

Coming now more particularly to the present invention, the power shaft P whlch 1s driven by the 'engine (not shown) has a cupshaped hub 1 secured around its rear end and carrying a power gear 2 of some considerable size as shown and. provided on its rear .face with clutch teeth 3; and within said cup-shaped hub 1 is disposed a roller bearing e between the front end of the driven Shaft D and' thewaus of Saidhub.

-Rising from thebottom of the box or frame F is a stud or pin 5 on which, throughv suitable bearings, is mounted a counter gear or member having a peripheral. ring of teeth 6 engagedl with those inthe power gear 2 so Vthat this member is rotated constantly, and a h ub 7 itself having an outer and an inner rlng of teeth 8 and 9 for a purpose to be described below. Theupperend of the pin 5 is by preference braced within the frame AF by means of a cross strap 10-which stands above the toothed rings 8 and 9 as shown, and thereby the counter member is very firmly heldin mesh with the power gear 2, and it is rotated constantly while the engine runs, in a manner well known in devices 0f this character.

High speed on the direct drive is obtained as follows: The driven shaft D has a number.

of ribs 11 'along its length, and theseare' slidably engaged by grooves 12 in the hub of a sliding clutch element 13 having clutch teeth 14 adapted lto be engaged with those numbered 3 on the power gear 2 when this element is moved forward, and the connectionof the two clutch elements causes the driven shaft D to rotate in the same direction andl at the same speed as the power.

shaft P. Medium speed forward is obtained as follows: Fast on the driven shaft D is a hub` .15 ofa gear ring 16 from which project clutch teeth 17 adapted to beengaged with others numbered 18 on the rear side of the clutch element 13, when the latter is moved to the'rear; but the hub 15 and ring 16 are separated by a ball bearing 19 of any suitable construction, and this member is preferably formed as best seen in Fig. 4. It follows that the constant rotation of the counter member causes its toothed ring 8 to en- 'gage the gear ring 16 which is. rotated '-around the ball bearing 19 between the ring 16' and its own hub 15, and this rotation of the ring 16 continues whatever the direction in which its hub 15 rotates, and whatever its speed. ln other words, excepting for the ball bearings, theV members 15 and 16 are perfectly 'separatealthough the innermost carries the outermost. The relative sizes of the gear ring 8 and the gear ring 16 regu- :the latter. to the driven shaft D which ro lates the speedat which the driven shaft D will be rotated by the power shaft P when on medium speed as thus explained.

Low speed forward -is obtained as follows z' that they engage with the smaller gear ring 9 on the counter member, cause slower rotation and greater .power in a manner well known in this line.. Slidably mountedon the driven shaft D just in rear of the member 20 is a clutch element which takes the form of a sleeve or spool'22 having clutch teeth 23 on its front endladapted to engage with those numbered'21 on the element 20; and it is obvious that when these members engage, the power will be communicated from the shaft P through the power gear 2, the counter member and its ring 9, the ring or annulus of the member 20, thefteeth 2 1 and 23, to the sleeve 2 2, and by the latter to the driven shaft D.

Low speed in a reverse direction.v is obtained as follows: The construction just described in reference to low speed forward is duplicated to the rearof the clutch element or sleeve 22, as shown at 24, and the teeth 25 on this member are adapted to berplaced in engagement with the 'teeth 26 on the rear end ofthe sleeve.v However, the member 25 engages the rear side of the ring 9 on the counter member, and is therefore of course rotated in a direction reverse to that in which thel member 20 rotates. It will be obvious to those familiarl with devices of this kind, that whenthe sleeve 22 is moved vto engage the clutch teeth 26 and 25, power is communicated from the main shaft P through the power gear 2, the counter mem@ ber and its gear ring 9, the element 24:, and

the teeth "25 and 26 to the sleeve 22, and by frame F and preferably along the top thereof opposite tothe counter member above'described, and 32 is a pieceof tubing slidablyl mounted on this rod and carrying at one end a fork 33 which engages a groove 34: formed inthe periphery of the clutch element 13..

i The numeral 35 designates a piece of'larger tubing slidably .mounted upon the st nallerA tubing 32,'and car`ryi11 'g'at` one enda fork 36 loosely engaging an annular roove 37 formed in the periphery of the c utch elementor sleeve 22. The smaller` tube 32 is moved upon the rod 30, or 'the larger tube mechanism by means 'ofA 35 upon the smaller tube 32., by means not necessary to describe or to show in this connection, as they form no part of the present invention. But it is obvious that provision must be made whereby only oneffpair ofthe clutch teeth throughout the. entire transmission mechanism may be engaged at a time, and this may be carried out in any of the ways well known in transmission mechanism. V

The parts are all by preference of metal,

tempered where necessary to produce strengthand resist wear; and, as suggested above, ball, roller, and thrust bearings are used at the Vpoints shown and elsewhere 1f ,found necessary to reduce friction.

This transmission mechanismhas the merit of being extremely compact and simple, its parts are all readily accessible when the cover of the box-like frame F is 'removed, and its various gear members and clutch members are mounted upon a singlev 5 line of shafting, ifwe 'except the stud or pin' 5 carrying the counter velement which by.

preference lies in the bottom of the frame or box so that itis bathed in grease.y

What is claimed as new 1s;-

1. In a transmission mechanism, the com-4 bination with alined lpower and driven shafts, and the power gear having a hub fast on '-.the power shaft; .of a counter member pivoted on an axis at an angle to the line of said shafts, a plurality of gear rings on thls member, one of which engages with said 'power gear, gear rings rotatable around vthe d riven shaft and in mesh with the remaining rmgs. on said counter member, each'of the' driven gear rings having clutch members,

clutch elements splined on said driven shaft andhavin clutch members adapted to be engaged with those on the driven rings, `and meansl for shifting saidl elements.

2. Ina transmission mechanism, the combination with alined power and driven shafts, the power gear having a cup-shaped hubfastv on the power shaft, and bearings between the adjacent end of the driven shaft and said hub; of a counter member pivoted on an axis at an angle to the line of said shafts, a plurality of gear rings on this member, one of which engagesl with said power gear, gear rings rotatable around the driven shaft and in mesh with the remai ing rings on said counter member, each o the driven gear rings having clutch teeth, clutch elements splined on said driven shaft and having teeth adapted to be thrown into engagement with those on the driven rings,y

and means for shifting said elements independently/Y.v l 3. 'In a transmission mechanism,the combination with separate shafts extending in one direction, a frame in which they are journaled, and arpower gear fast on the power shaft and having Aclutch ower and driven v teeth; of a counter member pivoted on an axis at right angles to the line of said shafts and having a plurality of gear rings, one of which engages with said power gear, gear rings rotatable around the driven shaft and in mesh with the remaining rings on said counter member, one of them being in rear of its pivot, each of the driven gear rings having clutch teeth, clutch elements splined on said driven shaft and having teeth adapted to be thrown into engagement with those on the driven rings, and means for -shifting said elements independently.

4. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with separate power and driven shafts extending in one direction, a frame in which they are journaled, and a power gear fast on the power shaft and having clutch teeth; of a counter member pivoted on an axis at right angles to the line of said' shafts and having a plurality of bevel gear rings, one of which engages with said power gear, gear rings rotatable around the driven shaft and in mesh with the remaining bevel rings on said counter member, each of the driven gear rings having clutchpteeth, clutch elements splined on said driven shaft and having teeth adapted -to-be thrown into engagement with those on the driven rings, one of said elements standing between the power gear and one of said gear rings, and means for shifting said elements independently.

5. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with alined power and driven shafts, the power gear having a cup-shaped hub fast on the power shaft, and bearings between the adjacent end of the driven shaft 'and said hub; of a counter member pivoted on an axis at an angle to the line of said shafts and having a plurality of gear rings, one of whichV engages with said power gear, a plurality of gear elements each comprising a hub fast on the driven shaft and a gear ring rotatable around its hub and having clutch teeth, the several gear rings being` in mesh with those on the counter member, clutch elements splined on said driven shaft and having teeth adapted to be thrown into engagement with those on the driven rings, and means for shifting said clutch elements.

6. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with separate power and driven shafts extending in one direction, a frame in which they are journaled, and a bevel power gear fast on the power shaft and having clutch teeth; of a counter member pivoted on an axis at right angles to the line of said shafts and having a plurality of bevel gear rings, one of which engages with said power gear, a plurality of gear elements each comprising a hub fast on the driven shaft and a ring rotatable around the hub and having beveled gear teeth engaging lthose on one of the'rings in said counterv teeth; clutch elements splined on said driven shaft and having teeth adapted to be thrown into engagement 'with those on the driven rings, one of said elements vstanding between thepower gear and one of said gear rings, and means for shifting said elements independently.

7 In a transmission mechanism, the cornbination with a box-like casing having a pin rising from its bot-tom, cross straps bracing this pin from the sides of the casing, bearings in the front and rearl ends of the latter, the driving shaft projecting through the forward bearing, and the driven shaft projectingn through the rearmost bearing and having ribs throughout its length within the casingg'of a power gear fast on the rear end of the power shaft, a counter member journaled on said pin and carrying a number of gear rings, one of which engages the teeth on the power gear, a plurality of driven elements each having a hub fast on the driven shaft and a gbear ring rotatably mounted around the h ,v and in constant mesh with one of the rings on said counter element, and means forindependently and selectively connecting said rings with the driven shaft.

8. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with a box-like casing having a pin rising from its bottom, the driving shaft projecting through its forward end, and the driven shaft projecting through its rearmost end and having ribs throughout its length within the casing; of a power gear fast on the rear end of the power shaft, a counter member journaled on said pin and carrying a number of gear rings, one of which engages the teeth on the power gear, a plurality of driven elements each comprising a hub fast on the driven shaft and a gear ring rotatable around its hub and in constant mesh with one of the gear rings on said counter element, one of such gear elements being in rear of the pivot of said counter element for the purpose set forth, and means for independently and selectively connecting said rings with the driven shaft.

9. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with the power and driven slafts in alinement with each other, the ,power gear on the power shaft, a plurality of driven gear elements on the driven shaft and having clutch teeth, clutch elements slidable on this shaft for connecting the gear elements with it, each clutch element having an annular groove, and a counter member con necting the power gear with the various gear elements; of a fixed rod parallel with said shafts, a tube slidable on this rod, a fork carried by this tube and engaging the groove lin one of said clutch elements, a s'ec- 'my-hand in presence of two subscribing witond.- tube sldable on the rst tube, and a messes. .fork on the second tube engaging a groove inthe other clutch element, said tubesbeing RANDALL T' VAN VALKENBURG' 5 capable of mdependent movement, as and Witnesses:

for the purpose set fort-h. L. O. HlLTON,

v In testimony whereof I have hereunto set M. I. Bnssrus. 

